TACOMA – Nearly all nine matches proved close as Willamette narrowly edged Pacific Lutheran 5-4 in the Lutes' 2016 men's tennis home opener Sunday at Sprinker Recreation Center.

Pacific Lutheran claimed victories in two of the three doubles matches, and nearly pulled off a clean sweep after the first match went to extra points. Aaron Schechter and Sam Wexman held off James Okubo and Noel Oteng-Mensah 9-8 (11-9), but the Lutes claimed 8-5 victories in the next two matches. Jeremy Marsh and Marcelo Hernandez-Gamez defeated Blake Brash and Colin Yamaguchi, while Justin deMattos and Alberto Leal downed Derek Lund and Jesse Mackinney."

Marsh closed out a 2-0 day in the singles round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Schechter in the second singles slot, while Chan Thourk defeated Douglas Hochmuth 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 (10-7) in the sixth singles match. Willamette pulled out wins in the other four singles contests to clinch the team victory. Brash defeated Okubo 6-2, 6-4 in the first match, while Wexman pulled out a three-set win over Oteng-Mensah 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the third singles slot. Yamaguchi held off deMattos 6-3, 7-6 at number four, and Lund defeated Hernandez-Gamez 6-1, 6-5 at number five.

"It was a tough match today, and we battled well but came up just short," PLU head coach John Cassens said. "Jeremy really stepped up, and I was proud to see that there was no giving up in our guys today."

The Lutes head to Oregon next weekend to take on Lewis & Clark Saturday and George Fox Sunday.